Feels Like Friendship

"What do we have to talk about? I know I like her and she does with me." Artie said to Shrek. He sighed before speaking. He had to find the right way to say this because Artie wound tightly like this got freaky.

"Marissa came from another world, right?" he began trying to get Artie unwound before going on.

"Yeah I know that.

So?" he replied.

"She mightn't want to stay here after we stop Charming, she might want to go back to her world. I'm just trying to protect ya. She mightn't go back but it's just in case it happens." he told the young King softly.

"Yeah I know. It's just she sees the real me, the one Gwen never did and after waiting so long for Love and now it's happening, I don't wanna lose her." Artie told him yawning.

"You'd better sleep.

You need it." Shrek said.

"You don't want me to stay up with you in case?" he asked.

"I'll be okay. You just go, okay?" he replied seeing the young King go off.

"Poor kid. I know he's so happy at the minute but it might lead him into trouble if Charming finds out or when we face him. " he thought sadly looking at the stars in the night sky......

Artie then saw Marissa join him but Merlin looked sad as he went to meditate. He felt odd looking at her. She was beauitful but powerful after saving him from those goons Charming had sent.

"Maybe there's hope. We must be meant to be." he thought as he stroked her hair while she was asleep.

"I won't let anybody hurt you, not even Charming." he whispered kissing her on the forehead.

Charming cackled seeing that. "So there might be a way to get her to help. Artie likes her and she likes him. This is too perfect!

I have the upper hand." he thought smiling evilly.

Artie saw tears fall from Marissa's eyes as she woke up next morning. Shrek wondered what was wrong with her as they ate.

"I-It was the dream I had last night. It involved Artie fighting Charming and he hurt him badly.

I tried to heal him but I couldn't save him. It was so painful even for a dream." she told him. Artie had overheard that and felt sorry but angry.

Charming had tried to kill him, then Shrek and now he was playing mind games with Marissa. Puss saw the look in Artie's eyes and understood.

"Artie....... you can't do what I think you're going to do." he told him.

"I have to try, okay? Charming's making everybody's lives a misery even Marissa's and she's done nothing to hurt him. So I'm going to make him stop." the young king told him running off.

Shrek wondered where Artie was going in such a hurry but Artie didn't reply but just ran off.

"I should tell the others. If Artie gets hurt or worse, I won't forgive myself for letting him do this. I know he cares about Marissa but this isn't the way." Puss thought as Shrek caught onto where Artie was going.

He then stopped Artie and held him in a wrestling position.

"What do you think you're doing? Let me go!" Artie said to him.

"I won't until you get the idea of confronting Charming out of your system. He's probably expecting this to happen.

I won't let you go to your own death." he yelled as Artie calmed down.

"You're right Shrek. I can't do any of this...

I never should've left here. I should've stayed here and remained a loser. At least Charming wouldn't hate me and Lance would be my only problem." Artie said kicking him in the chest to let him go.

He groaned in pain but knew the kid didn't mean it, he was just confused and angry but he was worried. He was having a relapse of low self esteem.

Marissa then watched as Merlin put salve on the bruise on Shrek's chest.

"That had to hurt." Donkey said.

"I'll be fine guys." Shrek told them..... Right now he was worried about Artie.

He needed him.....